Dreamcatcher Initiative Inc

DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE WILL PROVIDE 300 YOUTH WITH MENTORS OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THE GRANT. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WILL ENGAGE WITH MENTORS FOR 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN DCI'S CORE PROGRAMMING. DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVES PROGRAMS INCLUDE GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND ADVANCE THEIR SUCCESS. THE OVERALL GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES SUCH AS IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND REDUCED SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO REDUCE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES INCLUDING CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, SUBSTANCE USE, AND GANG PARTICIPATION THROUGH MENTORING. DREAMCATCHER MENTORING PROGRAMS AIMS TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTORING SERVICES FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM; INCREASE OR MAINTAIN THE NUMBER OF SCREENED AND WELL-TRAINED MENTORS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ENSURING THE MENTORS SELECTED REFLECT THE YOUTH THEY SERVE, AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAM DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS THAT ALIGN WITH RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVE MENTORING APPROACHES.

THE DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE ARTS PROGRAM WILL SERVE TO 60 YOUTH IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, MA WHO ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED OR AT RISK FOR JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT. SERVICES WILL BE CENTERED OUT OF THE GREATER BOSTON AREA. THE THREE PRIMARY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE ARTS PLANS TO SERVE ARE ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, AND MATTAPAN. AT THE CORE OF THE DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE ARTS PROGRAM ARE TWO DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAM COMPONENTS: GUIDED DREAMS AND DREAM STUDIOS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO OFFER ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS FOR EXPRESSION AND PROVIDE A SEGWAY INTO ARTS PROFESSIONS FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED AND AT-RISK YOUTHS. DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE ARTS WILL GUIDE YOUTH TO DEVELOP TECHNICAL SKILLS, BUILD CHARACTER, AND WORK THROUGH THEIR CHALLENGES USING ARTS AND CREATIVITY. BOTH PROGRAMS WILL LAST 6 MONTHS AND ENROLL COHORTS OF BETWEEN 10-20 YOUTH IN EACH CYCLE, FOR TWO COHORTS SERVED ANNUALLY. DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE PLANS TO ENROLL PARTICIPANTS DIRECTLY THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES, WITH THE MAJORITY CURRENTLY RESIDING AT OR RECENTLY EXITING THE METRO CONNELLY RESIDENTIAL AND HARVARD STREET FACILITIES. THE GOAL OF DREAMCATCHER INITIATIVE ARTS IS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES, DELINQUENCY, AND HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS.